title: Genus-specific PCR assay for screening Arcobacter spp. in chicken meat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of emerging pathogenic species described within the genus Arcobacter has increased rapidly during the last few years. In this work a genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detection of the species of Arcobacter most commonly associated with foods. The assay uses primers designed to amplify an 85 bp DNA fragment on the 16S rRNA gene and was applied to the detection of Arcobacter spp. in retail chicken meat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primer specificity was tested against a panel of Arcobacter spp., related Campylobacter and Helicobacter spp. and other food bacteria. Arcobacter primers consistently and selectively amplified the expected DNA fragment in all tested Arcobacter spp. Bacterial control primers confirmed the presence of amplifiable DNA in the samples. The applicability of the PCR assay to food was validated through screening of fresh retail chicken samples for the presence of Arcobacter spp., with a result of 45% (23 out of 51) positive samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The genus-specific PCR assay developed has the potential to be used as a quick and sensitive alternative method for the survey of Arcobacter contamination in meats.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández-Tomé
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002645:Chickens; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Arcobacter detection; PCR; chicken meat; enrichment